One in a million (Prequel to 'Bad Blood')

Chapter 26: Just us

James's POV

As I predicted, I indeed finished around 11. I barely had any strength left in my body, I was exhausted. Not because it was hard labor, but because of the blazing sun.

I even had to drop my work for lunch and dinner. I had to prepare it and serve it and clean it. And then go on to do the lawn.

Even dad wondered why I had gotten such a hard task, he assumed it was my punishment for this morning. But I knew that wasn't the case.

I finally arrived in my room and let myself fall on my bed. I let out a deep breath and closed my eyes, I could sleep like this.

Then I heard my bedroom door open.

I opened my eyes and saw Cassandra. I let out a breath and closed my eyes again.

"Hey."

I remained silent.

"James?"

I still didn't say anything.

"Are you going to ignore me?"

I sighed before opening my eyes. "Hey."

"Finally," She went to sit down on my bed. "Don't ignore me," She then stopped and pulled a funny face. "You smell, go take a shower."

"I can't."

"Come on, James," She pushed me. "I can't sleep next to someone smelly."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"No, I can't!" I said louder.

She then stopped pushing me. "What's going on?"

I looked at her. "You really have to ask me that?"

She just looked at me.

"I'm exhausted, my body hurts, I can't do anything anymore."

"Come on, James."

"Just go to your room," I closed my eyes then. "I'm not getting up and you wouldn't sleep in a smelly place."

She didn't say anything then but she didn't move either. She just sat there, on my bed.

I'd almost feel bad for lashing out to her but I just couldn't help it. I really didn't like the way she had been treating me today and I wasn't going to obey her commands at this moment anymore.

Surprisingly, she came to lay next to me and laid her head on my chest. She wrapped her arms around me and just laid there, in silence.

I didn't open my eyes, I didn't say anything to her, I didn't wrap my arms around her, I did nothing. I just laid there intending to get some sleep.

Suddenly I felt her move. She caressed my cheek and then a kiss followed. In that kiss, I felt exactly what she couldn't say in words. I understood what she was feeling.

When she pulled back, I opened my eyes. "I'm sorry for making things hard on you, I know it's not easy to see me as your servant."

She looked down then, and I knew I was right.

"I can't call you Cassandra or the woman of my dreams when others are nearby, can I?"

She sighed. "No," She looked me in the eyes then. "I just hate it."

I nodded.

"When I saw you this morning and you greeted me like a servant..." She sighed. "I felt that distance between us which I so badly want to disappear," She then looked me in the eyes. "Will it ever disappear?"

I showed her a small smile. "I don't know about you, but I feel no distance at this moment."

She smiled then.

"And I certainly felt no distance last night when we made love."

She smiled more then, though she also blushed.

"I love you, Cassandra," I said, gaining her attention. "I don't care what other people think about us, I only care about us. And I'll do anything to make you happy."

She caressed my cheek once more. "You're the best."

I smiled.

"I'm sorry for behaving the way I did today," She then looked at my body. "I'll make it up to you."

"How?" 

I didn't like the way she was looking, she had a mischievous look in her eyes. She reached for my clothes and started taking them all off.

I watched her as she undressed me completely.

She then looked at me. "Better?"

I nodded.

She smiled before getting up and undressing. She started getting back in bed.

"Wait," I said, stopping her. "The door."

She looked at it and understood. She walked to the door and blocked it by pulling my closet in front of it.

She then came back to me and got in bed. She crawled over so she'd be lying right next to me. She then laid her head on my chest while wrapping her body around mine. "Is your body really that sore?" She asked as she was feeling my chest and belly area.

"It's doing ok," I looked at her hand. "I'm just tired, that's all."

She looked me in the eyes. "I think you need to relax."

"Maybe." I smiled a bit.

"I can help with that."

"How?"

Before she'd reply, her hand trailed downwards.

I gasped.

She smiled before pulling my face to hers and kissing her.

___________________________

Cassandra's POV

I laid awake in the middle of the night. I couldn't seem to fall asleep, maybe I wasn't tired? Maybe I needed to calm down some more? I don't know.

So while James was sleeping, I was looking around his dark room. I observed his furniture which, of course, was property of the castle. I wondered how much he actually owned. Did he even own anything? Were his clothes really his?

I sighed as I moved a bit. When I did that, I felt James move too. He pulled me closer to him but remained asleep.

I looked behind me and saw his sleeping form. We were spooning, as we always seemed to lay this way while we slept. He'd always hold me from behind while I'd welcome his love.

I'd love to take him to my room. I'd love to take him to my castle, to my real room. I'd love to take him out. I just wanted to be with him, and nothing else. Just us.

He was right, when we're here in bed, it was only the two of us. Perhaps that's why I loved spending time here.

I smiled as I nuzzled deeper into his embrace.

"Hey," He said sleepily, I must've woken him when I moved. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, James," I pulled his face to mine to kiss him one more time. "Get some rest."

He nodded before laying back down. "Goodnight, Cassandra."

I smiled. "Goodnight, James."